Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #55 in Essex public Top 35% UK

Paxman Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Fiona Pierson

corporate_fareTHE SIGMA TRUST

location_onColchester, CO2 9DB

language Visit Website phone 1206413813

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

697

trending_up

Attainment 8

41.3

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GCSE Rank

#53 in Essex

#2,360 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Paxman Academy is a Free schools secondary school in Colchester, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Paxman Academy is a free schools in Colchester, Essex, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of THE SIGMA TRUST. The school has approximately 886 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.3, placing the school #53 in Essex and #2,360 of 3,216 nationally. 34.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.0:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

41.3

Grade 5+ E&M

34.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.7%

Entering EBacc17.10%

EBacc APS3.37

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48.90%

EBacc APS3.93

2023

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2022

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 February 2024

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

1 Evaluations

2024-02-06

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.8%(16 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 886 pupils. During this period, there were 22 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	886	22	2.5%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	884	22	2.5%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	883	36	4.1%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	895	63	7.0%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	899	80	8.9%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	725	83	11.4%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	697	61	8.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	698	61	8.7%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	532	31	5.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	538	28	5.2%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	534	34	6.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	358	7	2.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	355	3	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	358	7	2.0%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	180	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	180	2	1.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	179	3	1.7%	4.2%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 48 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 28 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 23 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

73.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

73.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

15.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree36%

disagree20%

strongly disagree17%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree28%

agree36%

disagree23%

strongly disagree10%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree20%

agree21%

disagree14%

strongly disagree16%

don't know1%

not applicable27%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes40%

no60%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree36%

agree25%

disagree10%

strongly disagree29%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree41%

agree32%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree12%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree38%

disagree21%

strongly disagree8%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree43%

disagree14%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree47%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree28%

disagree15%

strongly disagree15%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes62%

no38%

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 3SX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Chelmsford, CM1 1RW

emoji_events #2 in LA

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Inadequate

location_on Colchester, CO3 3ND

emoji_events #3 in LA

Colchester County High School for Girls

Outstanding

location_on Colchester, CO3 3US

emoji_events #4 in LA

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Good

location_on Brentwood, CM14 4EX

emoji_events #5 in LA

Saffron Walden County High School

Outstanding

location_on Saffron Walden, CB11 4UH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Essex arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Essex

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Colchester Royal Grammar School

Colchester County High School for Girls

Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School

Saffron Walden County High School